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Known For
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Leading French resistance to the Nazis during World War II
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Creating the Fifth Republic and advancing France's role as a world power
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Milestones
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1940 Was appointed undersecretary of state of national defense and war
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1940-1944 Served as president of the Free French, the French government-in-exile in London
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1945-1946 Served as president of the provisional government in France
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1947-1953 Led the Rally of the French People, a new political party
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1959 Became president of the Fifth Republic
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1962 Granted Algeria independence
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1965 Was elected to a second term as president of France
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1966 Withdrew French forces from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), which he believed was dominated by the United States
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1967 Effected the withdrawal of NATO from France
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1969 Resigned following the rejection of his proposal for Senate reorganization, which would have increased the power of the president
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Quote
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'How can you govern a country which has 246 varieties of cheese?' Quoted in Newsweek magazine, October 1, 1962.
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Did You Know
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In 1967 de Gaulle infuriated the Canadian government by calling for a free Québec during his visit.
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De Gaulle wrote a book on military tactics in 1934 that the French initially ignored; its theories were proved correct during World War II.
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De Gaulle was convicted of treason in absentia for encouraging the French people to oppose the 1940 armistice with Germany.
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During World War I de Gaulle was wounded several times and taken prisoner by the Germans.
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